The Corehttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core
Virginia Beach City Public SchoolsThu, 15 Feb 2018 21:17:14 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.3Virginia Beach student brings home gold medalshttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/virginia-beach-student-brings-home-gold-medals/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/virginia-beach-student-brings-home-gold-medals/#commentsThu, 15 Feb 2018 21:14:06 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7402As the world watches the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, there is one Virginia Beach Middle School eighth-grade student who recently garnered his very own Olympic gold.

Josh Burton, the fastest Special Olympics speed skater in Virginia for the past two years, competed at the end of January in … Read more

]]>As the world watches the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, there is one Virginia Beach Middle School eighth-grade student who recently garnered his very own Olympic gold.

Josh Burton, the fastest Special Olympics speed skater in Virginia for the past two years, competed at the end of January in the Pennsylvania State Special Olympics, which draws competitors of all ages from across the country. There, he won speed skating gold medals in the 777, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

It was only four years ago, at age 10, when he first learned to speed skate.

According to him, he took up the sport as an alternative to playing hockey because he “didn’t like chasing the puck around” but enjoyed “going fast on the ice.”

But for Burton, who has autism, winning gold was the triumphant peak of a particularly challenging year.

In May 2017, at the end of his seventh-grade year, Burton was in a serious bicycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The crash fractured his skull and caused several brain bleeds, which then led to Burton suffering through seizures. As a result, Burton was not able to skate all summer.

However, after being medically cleared, Burton returned to the ice in September in time to compete in the Virginia Fall State Special Olympics fall speed skating competition held in Virginia Beach. Here, too, he captured speed skating gold medals in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

Then, just as he was getting ready for the Special Olympics winter season of competition he was sidelined by an emergency appendectomy in November.

Through it all, he never lost his spirit.

“Giving up would just be an excuse and you would regret it immediately,” he said. “Yes, I had a fractured skull, I had seizures and I had appendicitis but I still kept going,” he said.

His advice to others today is “try not to give up.”

His mother, Eve Poteet, credits his school for helping him during his recovery.

“Yes, he has talent, but even more important, he has people that believe in him,” she added. “His teachers have helped him keep his grades up because he knows he has to be on honor roll in order to continue to miss a couple days here and there for competitions.”

In addition to competitions, Burton also joined hundreds of people in the annual Virginia Beach Polar Plunge, which benefits Special Olympics Virginia and was held in early February.

Ironically, as the Winter Olympics got underway, Josh didn’t have plans to watch – although he did tune in and was excited to see fellow speed skaters.

“I don’t really watch sports,” he said.

Instead, he would rather be out experiencing sports, mom explains.

It’s no wonder that in addition to being Virginia’s fastest Special Olympics speed skater, Burton also rollerblades and he skis on black diamonds, which are the most difficult slopes. He also golfs and is a certified advanced open water diver.

“Though he may never dive again due to his accident, he never loses hope,” his mom states.

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/virginia-beach-student-brings-home-gold-medals/feed/1Final Beach Girls Rock! workshop held March 17http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/final-beach-girls-rock-workshop-held-march-17/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/final-beach-girls-rock-workshop-held-march-17/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 17:16:43 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7395“Stand Up, Step Up, Speak Up” is the theme for the third and final Beach Girls Rock! workshop of the school year held Saturday, March 17, at Ocean Lakes High School from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The empowerment series is open to Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) female … Read more

]]>“Stand Up, Step Up, Speak Up” is the theme for the third and final Beach Girls Rock! workshop of the school year held Saturday, March 17, at Ocean Lakes High School from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The empowerment series is open to Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) female students enrolled in grades 5-8 as well as their parents/guardians.

The workshop’s theme will be reinforced through activities focused on standing up for others and self; stepping up and out of one’s comfort zone and trying new things; and speaking up for people and causes that are important to students and their school community. Specifically, student sessions will include: Vision Boards/Life Scenarios (Stand Up), Mindfulness/Healthy Thinking (Step Up) and Public Speaking/Famous Women (Speak Up). Students also will learn about the division’s Mathematics and Science Academy at the high school. Parent sessions will discuss middle school and high school transitions, social media, the Mathematics and Science Academy and “What Every Parent Should Know About Being a Middle School Girl.”

The workshop’s opening session will feature keynote speaker Kelly Fowler, a newly-elected member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 21st district and a former VBCPS teacher. She will discuss the underrepresentation of women in government office and how she “stepped out” of her comfort zone to become an elected official.

Students interested in attending the final Beach Girls Rock! workshop are encouraged to register in their school counseling office by Monday, March 12. Limited registration will be available onsite March 17.

For more information about the Beach Girls Rock! series contact Dr. LaQuiche Parrott, director of opportunity and achievement, at 757-263-1218 or laquiche.parrott@vbschools.com.

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/final-beach-girls-rock-workshop-held-march-17/feed/0VBCPS pre-kindergarten program accepting applications for 2018-19 school yearhttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/vbcps-pre-kindergarten-program-accepting-applications-2018-19-school-year/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/vbcps-pre-kindergarten-program-accepting-applications-2018-19-school-year/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 15:47:20 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7391Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) offers a pre-kindergarten program for children who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 30, and who meet eligibility criteria based on the Virginia Preschool Initiative. The full-day program is offered at no cost to families and serves children who are … Read more

]]>Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) offers a pre-kindergarten program for children who will be 4 years old on or before Sept. 30, and who meet eligibility criteria based on the Virginia Preschool Initiative. The full-day program is offered at no cost to families and serves children who are exposed to high-risk factors and situations that are likely to have an adverse impact on their development.

Parents/guardians interested in applying for the 2018-19 school year must attend one of the division’s eligibility application sessions conducted on select dates through June. In order to be seen at the screening, applicants are required to bring a completed application and various supporting documents such as proof of residency, child’s birth certificate and income statements, among others. The pre-kindergarten webpage on vbschools.com includes a detailed list of required documents as well as a link to the application. The application also may be requested at any VBCPS elementary school.

Acceptance into the program is not on a first-come, first-serve basis, and families will be informed of acceptance and waitlist status via U.S. Postal Service at the end of July. If accepted, students will attend one of the 26 elementary schools hosting pre-kindergarten classes, which follow the division’s school calendar and hours.

The following 14 eligibility application sessions are scheduled to accept applications for the 2018-19 school year:

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/vbcps-pre-kindergarten-program-accepting-applications-2018-19-school-year/feed/0Creeds ABC Buddies tutor and mentor kindergartnershttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/creeds-abc-buddies-tutor-mentor-kindergartners/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/creeds-abc-buddies-tutor-mentor-kindergartners/#respondMon, 12 Feb 2018 17:43:07 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7385At neighborhood social gatherings, Anne Horsley is often asked about area preschools and activities to prepare children for kindergarten. She has one universal piece of advice.

“To me,” said the reading specialist in her office at Creeds Elementary School, “the number one factor of reading success is if your child … Read more

]]>At neighborhood social gatherings, Anne Horsley is often asked about area preschools and activities to prepare children for kindergarten. She has one universal piece of advice.

“To me,” said the reading specialist in her office at Creeds Elementary School, “the number one factor of reading success is if your child comes into kindergarten knowing their letters, they’re off at a running start.”

She continued, “People think: if my child can sing the alphabet song, then they are proficient in the alphabet, and it’s so much more than that. Really, the book is the core of it – it’s knowing how to form the letters, it’s knowing what the letter’s name is and it’s knowing the sound the letter makes.”

The book Horsley is referring to is an alphabet tracing book by Dr. Jan Richardson, a literacy expert and former teacher and reading specialist.

“What [Richardson] says, these kids who are coming in and not knowing any of their letter identifications and sounds need one-on-one practice, using a tracing book every single day,” Horsley explained.

“It only takes 5-7 minutes once they get the gist of it. The child traces the letter with their finger and they say the name of the letter, the sound the letter makes and the name of picture that’s associated with it. It’s that kinesthetic feeling, forming the letter, that’s associated with it.”

The daily one-on-one support with undivided attention is critical to improvement and, according to Horsley, “the classroom teacher really can’t afford to do that in their instructional day.”

That’s why Horsley enlisted staff members and parent volunteers to work with young learners in need of extra assistance when she was the reading specialist at North Landing Elementary School. While the adults provided excellent support, Horsley considered a different approach when she brought the ABC Buddies program to Creeds Elementary School two years ago.

“When I got to Creeds I thought, we have a bank of fifth-graders who in the morning are coming in and unpacking; how perfect would it be to utilize our kids and give them that kind of mentor relationship?”

Turns out, it was pretty perfect. Just ask the fifth-graders serving as ABC Buddies to kindergartners.

“What I really like about it is it gives you some time to help somebody that needs help so they can get better at that skill,” said Torren Taylor. “Someday they’ll finish that skill and they’ll be really good at it when they get to higher grades, and when they need to use it in life, it will help them a lot.”

While helping his ABC Buddy practice letters, Zeke Parker said, “I like to just teach him. It’s fun because I get to help him learn.”

“I like when every time you go up to them in the morning, they start smiling and they get so happy,” said Dezeray McGreevy. “Every time you help them it helps them get better at learning so then when they go on they can be something like the president. It’s really fun to help someone younger learn.”

“When you’re older, like in fifth grade, you learn more stuff. And when you’re in kindergarten, sometimes you might need help,” he said. “Maybe you help your friend so much that when they’re in first grade they’ll ace everything, which will be really good.”

Acing the alphabet is the first goal, and ABC Buddies have helped kindergarteners do just that.

“G is for gate. G-g-gate. H is for hat. H-h-hat,” practiced kindergartner Hunter LeFeaux with his ABC Buddy Preston Lineberry.

“We started off this year with roughly 12 kindergarteners and a handful of first-graders as well. By December we were able to graduate seven or eight students,” Horsley said.

“It’s a celebration,” she said of the graduation. “The kindergarteners know this is not an isolated skill. They are living this every day in their kindergarten classrooms, with their parents, with their ABC Buddy and they know it’s one of their goals. So to have that celebration in December to say, ‘I got it, I’m there, I’m ready to start learning my sight words and getting into books.’ It’s such a level of pride as well for the fifth-grader because they feel like, ‘I had a hand in this. I helped with this. This little guy got somewhere in a really huge way and I was there with him every morning on his journey.’”

The journey isn’t over when kindergartners show proficiency with alphabet letters. The fifth-graders wouldn’t let that happen.

“They’ve really taken this ownership where they are all about these kids. I mean, they didn’t want it to end,” said Casey Conger, Creeds Elementary principal. “When the students learned the alphabet, then we had to let them start working with sight words. The little ones love it so much too. It really took off.”

The evolution of ABC Buddies to Word Wall Buddies, said Horsley, began in February for some students after a break for everyone in January. Some students are continuing to practice their alphabet letters and others are getting assistance with high frequency words that show up most in their reading and writing.

There is clear evidence that the extra daily practice with alphabet letters and sight words is helping kindergartners develop their skills. There is also evidence that the daily time together leads to another outcome – positive relationships.

“I love counting out letters and looking in the book. She’s my best friend,” said kindergartner Kai Conner of her ABC Buddy Dezeray, who also reads books to her in the morning.

Kai’s sentiment makes Horsley smile.

“Isn’t it nice to know – don’t we all feel that way, that you feel better and more confident when someone is looking out for you? Kai walks around the school thinking, ‘Dezeray’s got my back.’”

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/creeds-abc-buddies-tutor-mentor-kindergartners/feed/0Helping to keep the flu out of schoolhttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/helping-keep-flu-school/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/helping-keep-flu-school/#commentsMon, 12 Feb 2018 13:25:25 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7378Across the nation, the flu season is impacting many families. Here in Virginia Beach, school staff partners with student and families to help keep the flu out of schools.

“We work throughout the year to educate our students on the best practices to keep them healthy and thriving in and … Read more

]]>Across the nation, the flu season is impacting many families. Here in Virginia Beach, school staff partners with student and families to help keep the flu out of schools.

“We work throughout the year to educate our students on the best practices to keep them healthy and thriving in and out of school,” said Mary Shaw, VBCPS health services coordinator. “Certainly, we also ensure we are taking as many steps as possible at the school level to protect students from being exposed to any virus.”

At school buildings, areas with frequent student contact (such as desk tops and door knobs) are sanitized and disinfected on a regular basis, and teachers (especially at the elementary school level) remind students to wash their hands with soap and water throughout at the day. Even school buses are equipped with approved disinfectants in order to keep the bus as germ free as possible for students.

With these measures in place, families are still reminded to take the appropriate steps to limit flu exposure at schools. For example, any student with symptoms of flu should stay home until they are well and fever free without using fever-reducing medications. Students with a fever are contagious. As such, keeping students with a fever and flu symptoms at home can reduce the spread of the flu in schools.

If a student is diagnosed with the flu, it is important to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations regarding how many days they should stay home from school.

For more information about the division’s flu prevention measures, visit vbschools.com.

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/helping-keep-flu-school/feed/1High schools celebrate Signing Dayhttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/high-schools-celebrate-signing-day/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/high-schools-celebrate-signing-day/#commentsThu, 08 Feb 2018 18:16:25 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7370Wednesday, Feb. 7 was the 2018 National Signing Day, a day when high school students across America sign letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level. While various signing dates occur throughout the year for various sports, at least 132 students from across Virginia Beach City Public Schools … Read more

]]>Wednesday, Feb. 7 was the 2018 National Signing Day, a day when high school students across America sign letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level. While various signing dates occur throughout the year for various sports, at least 132 students from across Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) signed on this day.

In celebration, schools across the division shared their photos of student-athletes making their commitments to college. Check out some of the photos below or visit the VBSchools Facebook page to see more pictures.

But Tyler Fritz of Landstown Middle School wasn’t talking. He had to keep quiet until after his appearance on the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” which aired Wednesday, Feb. 7 during “Whiz Kids” week.

But Tyler Fritz of Landstown Middle School wasn’t talking. He had to keep quiet until after his appearance on the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” which aired Wednesday, Feb. 7 during “Whiz Kids” week.

The wait was long for Tyler’s family and friends, who knew he taped the show in August. It was even more difficult for Tyler, because it was the first time he had to keep a secret.

“There’s nothing more stressful than keeping something that exciting from your mom,” said Tyler.

The show’s rules state that contestants aren’t allowed to share their results to anyone outside of the studio audience.

“That’s the only secret you’re allowed to ever keep from your mother,” said Todd Fritz, Tyler’s father and Landstown Middle School guidance counselor.

Winning the “Most likely to be on Jeopardy” award from Landstown’s Academic Challenge Team is what sparked Tyler’s desire to be on a game show. Once he qualified for the show, Tyler and his father began studying and practicing with a homemade “Millionaire” set with mock questions.

“We tried to replicate the show as much as possible,” said Todd.

Tyler answered the first five questions correctly and locked in $5,000, then made it to the $10,000 question. “It was a math question,” Tyler said. “I lost on that one.” However, he walked away with $5,000.

With his winnings, Tyler plans to make a donation to Operation Smile, boost his college fund, and put some aside for something fun.

Tyler said the experience gave him confidence. “Before, during and after I had a constant wave of support. I was nervous how people were going to treat me after seeing me on the show, but I’m stunned with the support I’ve received from my teachers and classmates.”

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/whiz-kid-landstown-eighth-grader-takes-shot-1-million/feed/0Schools and centers announce their 2019 Teachers of the Yearhttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/schools-and-centers-announce-their-2019-teachers-of-the-year/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/schools-and-centers-announce-their-2019-teachers-of-the-year/#commentsThu, 01 Feb 2018 18:47:00 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7335Congratulations to the school division’s 2019 Teachers of the Year, selected by their respective schools and centers. Finalists for the citywide award will be chosen from among these honorees, and the 2019 VBCPS Citywide Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Teacher of the Year dinner in May.… Read more

]]>Congratulations to the school division’s 2019 Teachers of the Year, selected by their respective schools and centers. Finalists for the citywide award will be chosen from among these honorees, and the 2019 VBCPS Citywide Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Teacher of the Year dinner in May.

]]>http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/schools-and-centers-announce-their-2019-teachers-of-the-year/feed/2VBCPS meal menus and expanded nutritional information available onlinehttp://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/vbcps-meal-menus-expanded-nutritional-information-available-online/
http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/vbcps-meal-menus-expanded-nutritional-information-available-online/#commentsThu, 01 Feb 2018 13:49:57 +0000http://www.vbcpsblogs.com/core/?p=7332Starting in February, families can access breakfast and lunch menus on the Virginia Beach City Public Schools page on SchoolCafé. This change provides parents the opportunity to navigate menus for nutritional information and even filter by allergens.

SchoolCafé is the system that the school division uses to connect parents … Read more

SchoolCafé is the system that the school division uses to connect parents to their children’s cafeteria accounts.

Although parents are not required to have a SchoolCafé account to view menus, those with accounts can view their child’s lunch balances, monitor their child’s food purchases, set up low-balance reminders, schedule recurring payments and rate food items.

SchoolCafé also has a free app which is available for download via the App Store or Google Play.